It’s almost impossible to imagine that a single plant can fulfill most human needs. Yes, Hemp or industrial hemp as it is commonly known can house, clothe, feed livestock, medicate, and even cleanse the soil. All of these can be accomplished by utilizing the different parts of industrial hemp.
It is harder to believe that, until the 2018 Farm Bill, it was illegal to grow the plant in the country. Luckily, the U.S country has joined the rest of the world in legalizing hemp farming.
Hemp is a fast but low-growing plant that can be grown as a cash crop in most parts of the country. Yes, hemp is a member of the Cannabis sativa species that include marijuana but doesn’t contain sufficient levels of THC to give a hallucinogenic effect. All the CBD aka Hemp seeds planted must produce less than 0.3 percent of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
Here are the benefits of growing hemp plants.
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It Grows Fast
Yes, the plant grows incredibly fast. It only takes 60 days for the hemp fiber to be ready for harvesting with a combined harvester. After 120 days, the seed heads will be primed for harvest.
With the fast-growing rate, the hemp plant guarantees multiple harvests per year. It also means that a plant is an option for farmers living in extremely colder areas and who need to work within a short growing season.
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Disease Resistant
As a farmer, you know that risk is an important consideration. The uncertainties inherent in pests, diseases, and more can make a powerful impact on your returns.
Thankfully, hemp is a robust plant that’s naturally resistant to most common pests and diseases. While the plant is not completely impervious to these risks, the faster growth rate and its vigorous nature allow it to overcome the attack of these pests and diseases.
With this, the farmers don’t need to use a lot of pesticides and herbicides on the crop. This is helpful to the farmer’s budget. It also means that the possibility of contamination to the plant, soil, and water sources is significantly reduced.
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The Market is Wide
The hemp plant has over 20,000 known uses, making it a highly versatile crop worth investing in. The reason, hemp crop produces several materials including leaves and tougher stalks.
Often, soft leaves are used within the food industry as tea and salads. The tougher elements are used to feed livestock and for textiles. Other examples of hemp products include industrial needs, culinary needs, oils, biofuel production, paper, among others.
Put simply, the list of products one can extract from the hemp plant is endless. With the extremely wide market, there will be no shortage of demand for hemp plants any time soon.
With all the benefits of hemp, people are growing and buying cannabis flowers from all over the world. If you live in Canada, you have the advantage of buying legal cannabis from a place such as Mail Order Marijuana. Check them out here: https://www.mailorder-marijuana.com/
Conclusion
According to studies, global industrial hemp is on track for huge gains in the years to come. The projected annual growth rate from 2018 to 2027 stands at 18.3%.
The versatility and sustainability of the hemp plant offer an exceptional opportunity for the farmers willing to venture into the industry.